Unit block
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A unit block is a type of standardized wooden toy block for children. Known also as standard unit blocks or kindergarten blocks, these building blocks are common in preschools and some kindergarten classrooms in the United States.
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[edit] Sizes
A unit block is 5.5 inches long, 2.75 inches wide, and 1.375 inches thick.[1] Larger pieces include the double (11 inches long) and quadruple (22 inches long) sizes. Smaller sizes are made in various fractions of the standard unit.
[edit] History
The unit block principle was developed by educator Caroline Pratt in the early 1900s.[2] Pratt founded the City and Country School in 1914 in New York City.[3]
[edit] Wood
Unit blocks vary in price according to the wood used and the manufacturer. Maple blocks (the original wood put forth by Pratt) are more expensive than birch or beech.[4]
